November 10, 2011UncategorizedComments Off on Two New Ambassadors wave the White Ribbon

Press Release – Taranaki Safe Families Trust

Former Mayor Peter Tennent and community minded man, Kallum Jury-Field have taken their stand against violence towards women to the next level.9 November 2011 Media Release

Two New Ambassadors wave the White Ribbon against Family Violence.

Former Mayor Peter Tennent and community minded man, Kallum Jury-Field have taken their stand against violence towards women to the next level.

Nominated by the Taranaki Safe Families Trust they will stand shoulder to shoulder with other high profile men from around New Zealand to help provide positive actions to reduce violence in our communities, by becoming White ribbon ambassadors.

The White Ribbon Day campaign raises awareness of men’s violence against women, which in New Zealand is generally directed at wives, girlfriends and other intimate partners. White Ribbon Ambassadors encourage men to get involved by helping to challenge and change men’s abusive behaviour and attitudes towards women. “It is vital that men accept responsibility for helping to change the abusive behaviour of men so that women can live free from violence and fear,’’ says Taranaki Safe Families Coordinator Marion James. “To do this, men must lead the White Ribbon campaign, and be seen to lead it, as well as actively support it. They are the solution.”

To build leadership, the New Zealand campaign is encouraging the nomination of suitable men as candidates for an Ambassador role. White Ribbon Ambassadors are chosen for their passion and commitment to ending violence towards women and use their public profile to champion a violence-free lifestyle to other men.

Ambassadors are identified at both a national and a local level and nominations from several sectors of influence and are approved by the Families Commission national campaign committee. “Men who are respected, influential role models in their communities, workplace, business, government, faith, cultural group, sporting group, union and so on are all potential Ambassadors,” says Mrs James.

Peter Tennent has worked with the Taranaki Safe Families in the past in partnership with the New Plymouth District Council, and was one of the faces of the high profile media campaign in 2010.

Kallum Jury-Field is a Big Brother Big Sister mentor and actively involved in the Taranaki community.

“They have both signed a statement that they are living violence-free lives and uphold the White Ribbon pledge not to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women.” In this country most violence by men against women takes place in the home, with an average of 14 women a year killed by their partners or ex-partners. Each year there are over 3500 convictions recorded against men for assaults on women and one in five women will experience sexual assault or sexual interference at some point in their lives. “We know that all men are not violent; in fact, most are not,” says Mrs James. However, in New Zealand: • 92% of applicants for Protection Orders are women. • 84% of those apprehended for family violence offences are men. • Women experience more injuries, sexual violence, separation violence and fear than men. • Women also have more repeat offences against them than men. • In most of the severe and lethal cases of family violence, the perpetrators are men and the victims are predominantly women and children. Peter and Kallum will lead the White Ribbon March in New Plymouth at 12.30pm on Friday 25th November from Gover St down Devon to Pukeariki Landing This will coincide with a march in Hawera from the TSB corner to the Water Tower. We invite other men to join our new ambassadors for the march and/or wear a white ribbon to show they do not commit, condone or remain silent about violence towards women.

Main activities during White Ribbon Week White Ribbon March New Plymouth 12.30pm Friday 25th November White Ribbon March Hawera 12.15pm Friday 25th November Breakfast at McDonalds with the White Ribbon Bikers 7.30am on Wednesday 23rd November Family Challenge Day – Yarrows stadium Sunday 27th November 1-4pm